Voltage regulation for semiconductor dies and related structure

Abstract

An output of a voltage regulator is a core voltage line that runs adjacent to a die attach area on a packaging substrate. An input of the voltage regulator is typically coupled to a power supply which, in one embodiment, is also an I/O voltage line that runs adjacent to the die attach area. In one embodiment, the core voltage line is shaped as a ring encircling the die attach area on the packaging substrate. In another embodiment, the I/O voltage line is also shaped as a ring encircling the die attach area on the packaging substrate. Further, a semiconductor die having at least one I/O Vdd bond pad and at least one core Vdd bond pad can be mounted in the die attach area. The I/O Vdd bond pad and the core Vdd bond pad can be connected, respectively, to the I/O voltage ring and the core voltage ring.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A structure comprising: 
       a voltage regulator on a packaging substrate;  
       an input voltage line connected to said voltage regulator, said input voltage line being adjacent to a die attach area on said packaging substrate, said input voltage line being suitable for connection to a power supple;  
       an output voltage line connected to said voltage regulator, said output voltage line being adjacent to said die attach area on said packaging substrate.  
     
     
       2. The structure of  claim 1  wherein said output voltage line is an output voltage ring encircling said die attach area. 
     
     
       3. The structure of  claim 1  wherein said input voltage line supplies a first voltage and said output voltage line supplies a second voltage, said second voltage being generated by said voltage regulator from said first voltage. 
     
     
       4. The structure of  claim 3  wherein said input voltage line is an input voltage ring encircling said die attach area. 
     
     
       5. The structure of  claim 1  wherein said output voltage line comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of copper and aluminum. 
     
     
       6. The structure of  claim 3  wherein said input voltage line comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of copper and aluminum. 
     
     
       7. The structure of  claim 3  further comprising a semiconductor die attached to said packaging substrate in said die attach area. 
     
     
       8. The structure of  claim 7  wherein said semiconductor die comprises at least one I/O Vdd bond pad and at least one core Vdd bond pad. 
     
     
       9. The structure of  claim 8  further comprising at least one bond wire connecting said at least one I/O Vdd bond pad to said input voltage line. 
     
     
       10. The structure of  claim 8  further comprising at least one bond wire connecting said at least one core Vdd bond pad to said output voltage line. 
     
     
       11. The structure of  claim 9  further comprising at least one bond wire connecting said at least one core Vdd bond pad to said output voltage line. 
     
     
       12. The structure of  claim 1  wherein said packaging substrate is mounted on a printed circuit board. 
     
     
       13. The structure of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of voltage regulators on said packaging substrate, said plurality of voltage regulators being suitable for connection to said power supply. 
     
     
       14. A structure comprising: 
       a packaging substrate housing at least one off-die voltage regulator and at least one semiconductor die;  
       an input voltage line connected to said at least one off-die voltage regulator, said input voltage line being adjacent to said at least one semiconductor die, said input voltage line being suitable for connection to a power supply;  
       an output voltage line connected to said at least one off-die voltage regulator, said output voltage line being adjacent to said at least one semiconductor die;  
       said at least one off-die voltage regulator receiving a first voltage from said input voltage line and providing a second voltage to said output voltage line for use by said semiconductor die;  
       said semiconductor die having at least one core Vdd bond pad coupled to said output voltage line.  
     
     
       15. The structure of  claim 14  wherein said output voltage line is an output voltage ring encircling said semiconductor die. 
     
     
       16. The structure of  claim 14  wherein said input voltage line is an input voltage ring encircling said semiconductor die. 
     
     
       17. The structure of  claim 14  wherein said output voltage line comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of copper and aluminum. 
     
     
       18. The structure of  claim 14  wherein said input voltage line comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of copper and aluminum. 
     
     
       19. The structure of  claim 14  wherein said semiconductor die further comprises at least one I/O Vdd bond pad. 
     
     
       20. The structure of  claim 19  further comprising at least one bond wire connecting said at least one I/O Vdd bond pad to said input voltage line. 
     
     
       21. The structure of  claim 19  further comprising at least one bond wire connecting said at least one core Vdd bond pad to said output voltage line. 
     
     
       22. The structure of  claim 20  further comprising at least one bond wire connecting said at least one core Vdd bond pad to said output voltage line. 
     
     
       23. The structure of  claim 14  wherein said packaging substrate is mounted on a printed circuit board.